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Feeling the MCAT burn? ๐ฅ You're not alone! ๐ [Burnout Avoidance Tips!]
Burnout is a common struggle for pre-meds, but don't let it derail your dreams. ๐ช
Here are some tips to help you overcome MCAT burnout and stay on track:
Stress Management:
- Mindfulness & Meditation: Even 10 minutes a day can make a difference! ๐งโโ๏ธ
- Exercise: Get that body moving! Endorphins are your friends. ๐โโ๏ธ
- Healthy Sleep Schedule: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep. ๐ด
Self-Care:
- Hobbies & Interests: Make time for things you enjoy outside of studying. ๐ธ
- Social Connections: Talk to friends, family, or a therapist. โค๏ธ
- Healthy Eating: Fuel your body with nutritious foods. ๐
Work-Life Balance:
- Schedule Breaks: Don't forget to step away from the books! ๐๏ธ
- Time Management Techniques: Pomodoro, anyone? โฑ๏ธ๐
- Pomodoro Technique:
- Choose a task: Decide what you want to work on.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes: This is your "pomodoro" - a focused work interval.ย ย
- Work on the task until the timer rings: Eliminate all distractions during this time.
- Take a 5-minute short break: Get up, stretch, grab a snack, or do something non-study related.ย ย
- Repeat steps 1-4: After every 4 "pomodoros", take a longer break of 15-20 minutes.
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- Pomodoro Technique:
- Realistic Goals: Break down your study plan into smaller, achievable steps. ๐ฏ
Remember, your MCAT score AND your mental health are important๐. Take care of yourself, and you'll be well on your way to success! ๐
What are your go-to strategies for beating burnout? Share your tips in the comments below! ๐
Studying with One Week to Go
There's only about a week to go before the February LSAT. For many of you, that means that the day you've both looked forward to and dreaded is almost here! Just think โ in less than two weeks you'll never have to worry about the LSAT again.
To guarantee that February 2025 will be your last close encounter with the LSAT, you need to spend your last few days wisely. So, here's the big question: how can you get the most bang for your study buck?
First, recognize that you don't have enough time remaining to learn much new material. So, rather than focusing on mastering brand-new concepts, make sure you solidify the ones you already know. Rather than banging your head against the wall of your challenges, work on your strengths. Those strengths reflect your natural aptitude, so they're where you're most likely to grab a few extra points in the home stretch.
Equally important, if you work on your strengths, you'll go into Test Day filled with confidence โ another key factor in your success.
Last minute tip #1: Shift your focus to your strengths ๐ช
Next, make sure you know your Test Day plan.
For LR: What types of questions are you going to jump in and attack? What types are you going to flag and postpone? How many questions do you need to get right to hit your target score? How many questions can you afford to guess and completely skip?
For RC: Are you going with a 4-passage or a 3-passage strategy? How many questions do you need to get right? How many questions can you afford to skip? In what order are you going to tackle the questions on each passage (taking control makes a huge difference to your score!)? Are there any โno flyโ subjects that youโll automatically leave for last? Do you have strong feelings about comparative reading that will affect the order in which you tackle the passages?
Many students neglect to think about their overall strategy โ a huge mistake. Here's an indisputable fact about the LSAT: every second you spend looking at the screen, wondering โwhat should I do nowโ, your score is going down. The best prepared test takers know their game plans cold and are always moving forward during the exam.
Last minute tip #2: Make your game plan, know your game plan, BE your game plan ๐ง
Finally, you need to get physically ready for Test Day. You'll need to be up and running at full steam by your testing time. Figure out what your schedule will be on the day of your test: when will you get up? When will you eat? When will you do your warm up? When does your test actually start?
Once you figure that out, starting conforming to that schedule NOW, so that by test day itโs your natural rhythm.
Last minute tip #3: Set your body clock for Test Day ๐ฐ๏ธ
Do you have other last-minute tips you'd like to share? Leave a comment and post them here!